Breaking Down Wind-Driven Rain
“Wind-driven rain.” It’s a term you haven’t heard of. And you probably won’t ever hear about it until you realize your insurance policy doesn’t cover it. Which is why we are here to divulge the details so that you are well prepared when the storm comes.
Wind-driven rain damage, regardless of the cause, is a covered peril like wind or lightning which may have caused an opening in which rain has entered and caused water damage to the home or personal property. Wind is a powerful force of nature that can propel water into all sort of places. Water rides the wind highway straight into your home. If there’s no wind, the water would never have had a chance to enter the house to begin with.
It’s important to understand the intricacies of how insurance companies work. For example, if a storm messes up your home, most of the time it’s wind and rain that’s to blame for the majority of the damage. If wind and rain cause damage independently, then you would typically be covered by your home insurance policy.
One such Houston couple discovered water damage after a storm and further discovered that it was not covered by their insurance policy. This couple was indeed paying a premium home insurance plan, yet is still wasn’t covered.
Upon further digging, the adjuster discovered that the damage inside the home was caused by rain and that the rain was driven into the home because the tiles on the roof were loose and needed repair. In this rare case, it wasn’t the storm’s fault. It was their fault, for not properly caring for the tiles on the roof. They got zinged.
These tiny details will determine the fate of your insurance plan. They are the distinctions between a good and bad insurance situation. Don’t be like the Houston couple. Hire a licensed public adjuster on your team who will make sure these little details don’t go unnoticed. But it’s also on you to make sure you don’t have loose tiles on your roof when a storm is heading your way.
According to the National Flood Insurance Program, “when rain enters through a wind-damaged window or door, or comes through a hole in a wall or roof, the NFIP considers the resulting puddles and damage to be windstorm-related, not flood-related. Flood insurance covers overflow of inland or tidal waters and unusual and rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters from any source. However, the flood must be a general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of two or more acres of normally dry land area.”
If that dreadful storm has left you in an expensive and emotionally tumultuous place, a licensed public adjuster will be able to maximize your insurance policy claim and guide you through the process. These independent experts are trained for these exact situations. Because more often than not, the insurance company will try to take advantage of you. The adjuster will take a stand for you.
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